Sunday, September 7, 2008

A Ray of Sunshine in a Sad Magazine's World

What is it with me this week and publications named the Sun? 

The Sun Magazine (different from the New York Sun that I referenced in the last post, and way different from Britain's infamous the Sun tabloid) is my favorite magazine. I can say this even though I just got my first issue two weeks ago because I like it that much. 

This article is about John Records, a man in California who has devoted his career(s) to providing a myriad of programs to the homeless. It's interesting that the Sun printed this article, because in its Letters to the Editor section, one reader complained that the Sun is usually loaded with depressing material. I believe that. It has the reputation of being an artistic collection of creative nonfiction. But have you ever noticed that mainstream news coverage is often depressing, too? This story is optimistic, mostly because the man who was being profiled made it that way. If you notice the interviewer's questions, he still seems to push toward "the down side" of Records' job.

This article could bring up some good discussion of interviewing techniques, and it also shows how specific interview questions can make a profile go many different ways. 

So...what do you think?

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